Trump trial: Cohen faces Trump team grilling over past lies, recollections

The defense questioned Trump's former lawyer on Day 18 of the hush money trial.

Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.

Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.


What to know about the hush money case

READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about the historic case.


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Trump takes fight over gag order to NY's highest court

Former President Trump has asked New York's highest court to rescind the limited gag order that prevents him from commenting publicly about witnesses, jurors and lawyers in his ongoing criminal trial, according to a new court filing.

The filing is sealed, but is the next step after an intermediate appeals court yesterday upheld the order imposed by trial Judge Juan Merchan.

Trump has frequently attacked the judge, which is permitted, and has called the limited gag order unconstitutional.

In its ruling yesterday, the intermediate appellate court said that Merchan had appropriately balanced Trump's free speech rights with the court's need to control the trial.

There was no immediate comment from the Manhattan DA's office.

-ABC News' Katherine Faulders contributed to this report


Defense hasn't decided if Trump will testify, per transcript

According to a transcript of the day's court proceedings released this evening, Donald Trump and his attorneys have not yet decided if the former president will testify at his trial.

The transcript included a private sidebar conference held this morning, during which Judge Juan Merchan asked defense lawyers about Trump's possible testimony.

"And do you have any indication whether your client is going to testify?" Merchan asked defense attorney Todd Blanche.

"No," Blanche replied.

"No determination yet?" Merchan asked.

"No," Blanche said.

The conversation happened outside of the earshot of reporters and members of the jury.


Trump says he had a 'very good day' in court

Speaking to reporters after exiting the courtroom, former President Trump was asked about today's testimony, as well as if he plans to testify during the trial.

"As you know, I'm under a gag order. So I can't really answer those very simple questions that you're asking," Trump said, referring to the order that prohibits him from making public comments about jurors, witnesses and lawyers in the case, but does not keep him from discussing the case itself.

"We'd love to not be in the gag order. I'm the Republican nominee for president. I'm leading in every poll, and I have a gag order."

Recapping his day in court, Trump said, "We had a very, I think, a very good day and important to see what's happening and you'll have to record it because I can't talk about it too much."

"We had a very good day. I think we're exposing the scam for what it is," he said.

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh and Mike Pappano


Cohen leaves court without looking Trump's way

Michael Cohen, his testimony done for the day, left the courtroom without looking at Trump.

During a bench conference, defense attorney Todd Blanche said he wants to explore with the court and the opposing counsel the admissibility of a defense expert witness before deciding whether to call him.

The judge set a conference to take place Thursday at 4 p.m. ET, after the jury is excused slightly early for the day.

Asked about Thursday's timing for the remainder of his cross-examination of Cohen, Blanche told the judge, "If I finish, it's at the end of the day."

The rest of the parties then departed the courtroom.


Jury sees nondisclosure agreement between Trump, Daniels

Jurors saw the finalized nondisclosure agreement between Trump and Stormy Daniels, guaranteeing Daniels $130,000 for her silence.

Cohen signed the document on behalf of Essential Consultants.

The agreement used pseudonyms for Trump and Daniels -- Trump's being David Dennison and Daniels' being Peggy Peterson.

"The purpose of it was to ensure his name didn't appear anywhere, as he is a candidate for the presidency of the United States of America," Daniels said.

Donald Trump's name briefly appeared on a side letter agreement to confirm that he was the David Dennison mentioned in the contract.

Both Davidson and Cohen were permitted to have a copy of the side letter agreement.

Jurors then saw a phone record showing a five-minute phone call between Cohen and Trump on Oct. 28, 2016.

Cohen said he told Trump that "this matter was now completely under control and locked down pursuant to the nondisclosure agreement."